Vitamin D Supplements vs. Sun Exposure

Vitamin D is incredibly essential to your overall health. Most people believe that they require Vitamin D for healthy bones and to prevent rickets. However, there is another crucial benefit of this vitamin that you probably don’t know about-prevention of tooth decay and gum disease. The absorption of vitamin D, Calcium, and Phosphorous also go hand-in-hand in your body. These nutrients play a vital role in the formation and maintenance of healthy teeth and gums in children and adults.

Calcium plays a critical role in strengthening your jawbones, but it requires Phosphorous to maximize its bone-strengthening benefits. Vitamin D, on the other hand, regulates your body’s balance of both calcium and Phosphorous and also promotes absorption. This illustrates the importance of vitamin D to your oral health. Several studies have also proved that Vitamin D can decrease inflammation of gums which is usually associated with periodontal diseases.

Vitamin D Reduces Cavities

Various scientific studies have established a relationship between sun exposure and tooth loss, cavities, and overall dental health. Dental caries tend to be inversely related to the average number of hours of sunlight exposure per year with people staying in sunny areas having fewer cavities compared to those that live in the less sunny regions. People who receive plenty exposure to sunlight throughout the year tend to produce a lot of vitamin D. The vitamin induces cathelicidin, an anti-microbial peptide, which attacks and destroys oral bacteria in your mouth that causes dental cavities.

In fact, experts say that use of vitamin D seems to be a much better option of reducing dental cavities than fluoridation of water supplies since there are lots of other benefits of Vitamin D compared to fluoride. There is also overwhelming evidence proving that drinking fluoridated water isn’t the right way to protect your teeth. Overexposure to fluoride could lead to dental fluorosis which is already becoming a significant concern in Canada, the United States, and other countries in North America.

Vitamin D Supplements vs. Sun Exposure

The two primary ways of getting vitamin D that your body requires is by exposing your skin to sunlight or by taking vitamin D supplements. Keep in mind that you can’t get the recommended amount of vitamin D that your body needs from food alone. However, the big question has always been; which is the safer way of obtaining vitamin D?

The most recommended and best source of vitamin D is by exposing your skin to sunlight. This can happen really quickly especially in summer when there is sufficient sunlight. You don’t need to burn your skin to get the right amount of vitamin D. You only need to spend a few minutes basking in the sun. The best time to do this is around midday.

However, if you live in an area that doesn’t receive enough sunlight; you can get vitamin D by taking supplements. The best supplement to take is the vitamin D3 supplement since it comes in a wide range of ways including tablets and capsules. Most people can take vitamin D without any problems, but you need to be extra careful if you have certain health complications.